Release Date: September 3, 2019
Thank you to Page Street Kids publishing team for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
Welcome to my stop on the Have a Little Faith Blog Tour hosted by The Fantastic Flying Book Club! This has been one of the funniest and touching books I’ve read 2019 and I’m so excited to be promoting it both here and on Instagram. There is a chance to win a copy of this book both platforms so keep reading to learn more about this book and how to win!
Synopsis
“Saved!” meets To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in this laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that takes a meaningful look at consent and what it means to give it.
When CeCe’s born-again ex-boyfriend dumps her after they have sex, she follows him to Jesus camp in order to win him back. Problem: She knows nothing about Jesus. But her best friend Paul does. He accompanies CeCe to camp, and the plan—God’s or CeCe’s—goes immediately awry when her ex shows up with a new girlfriend, a True Believer at that.
Scrambling to save face, CeCe ropes Paul into faking a relationship. But as deceptions stack up, she questions whether her ex is really the nice guy he seemed. And what about her strange new feelings for Paul—is this love, lust, or an illusion born of heartbreak? To figure it out, she’ll have to confront the reasons she chased her ex to camp in the first place, including the truth about the night she lost her virginity.
Purchase Here
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Review
You know the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover?” I’m so guilty of that. I saw the book cover with the Precious Angel statue on the cover and was like yeah no this isn’t for me. Then I read the synopsis and knew I needed to get my hands on it. A non-Christian going to Jesus camp to win back her religious boyfriend? Sign me up. I loved this book, I loved Cece, I loved Paul, I loved Cece and Paul together and Cabin 8 forever!
Never have I ever laughed so much while reading a book. Have a Little Faith in Me was hilarious to the point where I had to explain to people why I was just randomly laughing while on my phone reading. While there were funny parts to it though, this book tackled some hard topics. While obviously there isa lot of religious discussion happening in this book, there was a huge emphasis on sex and consent. All three are trigger topics, but I think Hartl handed them all beautifully and in a respectful manor. If you are deeply religious I’d pass this one up.
Sex is discussed a lot throughout this novel. It’s portrayed as a taboo topic for these kids who have grown up in religious households so they of course discuss it between themselves quite a bit. I mentioned the topic of consent earlier and I’d say the last half of the book discusses what exactly consent is and how it works versus what it’s thought to be. As a 25 year old who has had a couple serious relationships I though I knew what consent meant. There is so much more to it then I really ever considered and for that topic alone I’d recommend this book to other women. Since consent is discussed rape is brought up a bit, but’s not called out directly. It was more how Cece opposed some of the Christian seminars about how women tempt men by what they wear or “signals” they might accidentally send to give guys the wrong idea. It was another important aspect of the book that is a hot topic in society lately.
Besides all the kicka** feminism and sex talk, the side characters were another amazing part of this book. Genuine friendships are formed between the girls of Cabin 8 and they were all fleshed out, real characters that had their own thoughts and opinions that maybe didn’t quite align with the strict Christianity they had grown up with. They had the same questions all teens have at that age, just lacked the parent communication and other ways to get the answers to those questions. It was nice to see them take what they were taught and make it their own, not in a self-righteous way, but in a teenage girl way.
There obviously is some romance in this book with Cece trying to get her ex back and then fake dating her best friend Paul. It was of course predicatable in the outcome but it didn’t make it any less interesting and is in fact one of my favorite troupes. Cece and Paul have a real connection and while they may tease and make fun of each other, at the end of the day they will always be there for each other.
Have a Little Faith in Me will be added to my list of Favorite Books of 2019. If you want a good laugh, a book that takes on some hard topics, or even just a book with a romantic twist to it I highly recommend picking up this one.
About the Author
Sonia Hartl is a YA author who calls Michigan home, even though she’s lived in several different states. Her debut novel, HAVE A LITTLE FAITH IN ME is forthcoming from Page Street Publishing. When she’s not writing or reading, she’s enjoying pub trivia, marathoning Disney movies, or taking a walk outside in the fall. She’s a member of SCBWI and the communications director for Pitch Wars. She has been published in The Writers Post Journal and Boston Literary Magazine. She lives in Grand Rapids with her husband and two daughters.
Follow Sonia Hartl
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Prize: Win a finished copy of HAVE A LITTLE FAITH IN ME by Sonia Hartl (US Only)
Starts: 28thAugust 2019
Ends: 11th September 2019
August 28th
The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club – Welcome Post
August 29th
The Clever Reader – Guest Post
Snark & Squee – Review
Rants and Raves of a Bibliophile – Review + Favourite Quotes
To All The Books I’ve Read Before – Review + Playlist + Dream Cast
The Reading Life – Promotional Post
August 30th
The Reading Corner for All – Review + Favourite Quotes + Book Aesthetic
Flipping Through the Pages – Review
Kayla Reads and Reviews – Review
August 31st
Kait Plus Books – Guest Post
Fictitiouswonderland – Review
Bookish_Kali – Review + Favourite Quotes
Never Too Many To Read – Review + Favourite Quotes
September 1st
marshmallow pudding – Review
Sometimes Leelynn Reads – Review + Playlist + Dream Cast
Shelf Life Chronicles – Review
A Dream Within A Dream – Promotional Post
September 2nd
Musings of a (Book) Girl – Interview
We Live and Breathe Books – Review
The Traveling Inkwell – Review
Book Nerd Anonymous – Review + Dream Cast
September 3rd
Pages and Pugs – Interview
It Starts at Midnight – Review
The YA Obsessed – Review
Confessions of a YA Reader – Promotional Post
In addition to the blog tour and giveaway we have going above, we also have an Instagram tour going with it’s own separate giveaway! Check out my post on Instagram for more information on how to enter.
August 28th
The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club
The FFBC Tours
August 29th
Snark & Squee
To All The Books I’ve Read Before
August 30th
The Reading Corner for All
Flipping Through the Pages
Kayla Reads and Reviews
August 31st
Fictitiouswonderland
Never Too Many To Read
Bookish_Kali
September 1st
Shelf Life Chronicles
A Dream Within A Dream
This book owns my soul, I’m so glad you liked it too!!
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